Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Adam Shaw[1]

Male 1812 - 1892  (79 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Adam Shaw 
    Born 11 Jun 1812  Wamphray, Dumfries, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Christened 21 Jun 1812  Wamphray, Dumfries, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Gender Male 
    Elected Office 1859  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    councillor of Hespeler 
    Occupation 1861  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Grocer 
    Residence 1861  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Free Church 
    Elected Office 1866  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    councillor of Hespeler 
    Elected Office 1868  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    councillor of Hespeler 
    Elected Office 1874  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Reeve of Hespeler 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-252918 
    Died 16 Jan 1892  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I252918  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father John Shaw,   b. 1764, , Dumfrieshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Apr 1850, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years) 
    Mother Marian Boan,   b. 1780, , Dumfrieshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 May 1848, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years) 
    Family ID F18842  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret Forbes,   b. 1817, , Aberdeenshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Apr 1867, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years) 
    Married 5 May 1846  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Children 
     1. John A. Shaw,   b. 1846, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Elizabeth Hyde Shaw,   b. 1851, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jul 1890, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 39 years)
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F228621  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • A native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, Mr. Shaw possessed all the essentials for success in life that the people of that historic shire are noted for. When quite a young man, he determined to visit and see for himself, America, and if possible, to attain his commercial ambition, to become a successful business man in the new world. He first settled in the state of New York but only remained there a short time, coming to Galt in 1834. In the meantime, his friends had settled in Puslinch, having purchased the old Mendall homestead from the late W. F. Mendell of Belleville. Here, he only remained a short time, going to Galt, where he clerked in the Forbes Brothers store, Mr. Robert Forbes, the proprietor of the Star Mills, being one of them. While here, he married Margaret Forbes, who has been dead some twenty-four years now but whose memory is still green in all the old residents. From Galt, he came here and started a grocery store but soon left to again live in Puslinch. He lived at the Forbes Mills in Puslinch for two years, when he returned to Hespeler and again entered into the grocery business, which he prosecuted with vigour and achieved considerable success at until 1877, when he retired to go into the woollen business with the Cliff family. In this venture, he was unsuccessful. He returned to Hespeler and began again in the grocery business in the old stand, where he remained almost until his death. He only had two children, his daughter, Miss Elizabeth H. , dying a little over a year ago and one son, John A. who is at home. He was a man of more than average ability, a kind and indulgent father and a most useful citizen, always lending a helping hand to every good work. For nearly forty years he and his brother, the late James Shaw, were among the most active of the Presbyterian Church people here. The church might almost be termed a monument to the Shaw family. His keen sense of honour, so characteristic of his people at once won for him the confidence of the general public and in the wholesale centres of Canada the name of Adam Shaw stood A1. His home, especially during the lifetime of his wife, was always a home to the Presbyterian ministers who might be travelling. He also took a great interest in politics and when only five Liberal votes were polled in Hespeler, his was one of them and until his death remained true as steel to the cause. He had a long experience in municipal life, being for some time in the council and reeve of Hespeler. He always took an active interest in anything that was for the welfare of the village. Many were the interesting reminiscences that he would give of the early days, especially stories of the stirring times of '37 and his experience in Galt at the time of the cholera. On many occasions, he lent a helping hand to a deserving neighbour. Nothing but pleasant memories are left of Adam Shaw.

      A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 2
      Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark

  • Sources 
    1. [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 012709-96.
      John A. Shaw, 49, b. Hespeler, res. same, Widower, Grocer, son of Adam Shaw and Margaret Forbes, married Ada Flynn, 30, b. Hespeler, res. same, daughter of "Unknown", Witn Alphonas Leyes? of Galt, Sam Doyle of Oakville, married 18 November 1896, Galt

    2. [S1837] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1861, Div. 1 Page 7.

    3. [S1609] Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950.
      Adam Shaw
      Gender:Male
      Christening Date:21 Jun 1812
      Christening Place:, WAMPHRAY, DUMFRIES, SCOTLAND
      Birth Date:11 Jun 1812
      Father's Name:John Shaw
      Mother's Name:Marrion Boan

    4. [S507] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Galt - First United Presbyterian.
      Margaret Forbes married to Adam Shaw Residence: Dumfries 05 May 1846 Source: Associate Presbyterian

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 11 Jun 1812 - Wamphray, Dumfries, Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristened - 21 Jun 1812 - Wamphray, Dumfries, Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 5 May 1846 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor of Hespeler - 1859 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Grocer - 1861 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Free Church - 1861 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor of Hespeler - 1866 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor of Hespeler - 1868 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Reeve of Hespeler - 1874 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 16 Jan 1892 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth